How to Meditate

A Practical Guide to Making Friends With Your Mind

"When something is bothering you-a person is bugging you, a situation is irritating you, or physical pain is bothering you-you must work with your mind, and that is done through meditation. Working with our mind is the only means through which we'll actually begin to feel happy and contented with the world that we live in." -Pema Chödrön Pema Chödrön is treasured around the world for her unique ability to transmit teachings and practices that bring peace, understanding, and compassion into our lives. With How to Meditate, the American-born Tibetan Buddhist nun presents her first book exploring in-depth what she considers the essentials for a lifelong practice.More and more people are beginning to recognize a profound inner longing for authenticity, connection, and aliveness. Meditation, Pema explains, gives us a golden key to address this yearning. This step-by-step guide shows readers how to honestly meet and openly relate with the mind, embrace the fullness of our...

It is indeed practical and answers a lot of questions, but not all, that I have about meditation. It also breaks certain illusions: that you will find yourself in permanent peace or at least a "better" place. Excellent beginner to advanced guide.

Most excellent. Written with sensitivity and clarity, this book is much more than a guide on how to meditate, but also why we meditate: to develop a sharp awareness, to awaken to life, and cultivate love and kindness. For me, it answered the questions, what is enlightenment, and how can we use meditation to reach it.

Pema Chodron's work is amazing and inspirational. However, in the long run, it can be challenging to the point of being discouraging to some people. You might want to read a variety of books on the subject of meditation before you commit to one particular style or philosophy.

Quotes

We meditate in order to remove the root of suffering. Getting to the root of suffering begins with the returning to the present moment, with coming back to the breath. This is where expansion can occur. ... The present moment you will find is limitless.